Talking
g to Your Doctor Ab
bout Spinal Fracturres
Coulld I be at risk for a spina
al fraccture?
If you th
hink you haave or mayy be at riskk of a spinaal fracture,, you should talk with
h
your do
octor as soo
on as possible. To gu
uide your ddiscussion, below is a list of
questions you can
n ask your doctor:
1. Can
C we takke a minute
e and talk about my risk factors for osteeoporosis aand
spinal fracttures?
2. What
W
are th
he most likkely cause
es of my baack pain?
3. I’’m concern
ned about spinal fracctures. Wh
hat is my rrisk of having a spinaal
frracture no
ow or in the future?
4. What
W
can be
b done today to find
d out if I have a spin
nal fracturee?
-
Should I have a spine X-raay?
what is thee next step?
If myy X-ray shows a possible spinal fracture, w
Are there treatments that can repa ir and stab
bilize the frracture?
y refer me
m to a spine specialist who peerforms Balloon
Can you
Kyphoplasty?
5. What
W
are th
he specificc symptom
ms of a spin
nal fracture? What should I do
o if I
experience
e
symptom
ms of a spin
nal fracturee so we caan catch it in time forr
trreatment??
6. What
W
mediications orr lifestyle changes
c
sh
hould I starrt to proteect my bon
nes
and reduce
e my risk of having a spinal fraccture in th
he future? How will w
we
monitor
m
myy spine and
d assess whether
w
the treatmeent is workking?
If you have a spinaal fracture
e, it’s cruciaal that youu see your d
doctor as ssoon as
e for diagnosis and, iff necessaryy, get a refferral to a spine speccialist for
possible
treatme
ent. Caught early, spiinal fractures can be treated.
Althoug
gh the com
mplication rate
r
with Balloon
B
Kypphoplasty hhas been d
demonstrated
to be low, as with most surg
gical procedures, therre are riskss associateed with
Balloon Kyphoplassty, includiing seriouss complicattions. Conssult with your doctorr for
a full disscussion off risks.
PMD01127
74-1.0